From Adele to Lady Gaga, the stars who’ve earned the most from Las Vegas residencies – but top earner may surprise you
IT’S the multimillion pound gig every star dreams of — an iconic residency in Las Vegas.
Britney Spears is planning a huge return to Sin City and Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher said last week that he fancies a run “later in life”.
He said: “You don’t have to go anywhere. You live in the hotel that you play at.
“Elvis Presley used to get a lift from his room to the stage. I wouldn’t mind doing that.”
Britney turned the city from a destination for fading and washed-up artists to an entertainment mecca when she hit it with her Piece Of Me show in 2013 at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino
The Nevada Desert destination had lost its allure since the days of Liberace, Frank Sinatra and Elvis but Britney’s rejuvenated it’s music scene.
Kylie Minogue has landed her first residency at the age of 55 and will make her debut at the mega-club Voltaire in November for a three-month run.
Brand and culture expert Nick Ede reckons this could be Kylie’s biggest career move yet, with the Aussie set to earn up to £1million per show.
He says: “Riding high on the international success of her single Padam Padam, Kylie is set to light up the strip with a fabulous show that will showcase some of her biggest hits.”
We look at other singers who have earned a killing from their residencies, while Nick explains what makes their Sin City runs so spectacular.”
JENNIFER LOPEZ
Residencies: 1 Estimated earnings: £79.1million
WHEN she put on the biggest show of her life at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino’s Zappos Theatre, Jennifer was hitting back at critics who said she was an overrated performer.
J.Lo, 54, earned just over £79million in ticket sales from 121 shows of her All I Have residency between 2016 and 2018 and she holds the title for highest-grossing residency by a Latin artist.
Nick says: “With her fabulous dancing and hit singles, J.Lo shut down critics who claimed she couldn’t sing with a 90-minute non-stop show that proved how talented a performer she really is.
“Every show was sold out and left the audiences wanting more.
“I’m sure she’d be welcomed back to Vegas in a heartbeat.”
CELINE DION
Residencies: 2 Estimated earnings: £314.5million
KNOWN as the Queen of Vegas the Canadian holds the title for the highest grossing Vegas residency of all time.
The 55-year-old, who has sold more than 250million records worldwide, banked an astonishing £299million with her show A New Day, which ran between March 2003 and December 2007.
Performing 717 times to a total of three million lucky fans at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, Celine is said to have commanded an impressive £417,000 per performance.
She returned to the strip in March 2011 for another 70 performances of her show Celine, which netted her £15.5million before wrapping in June 2019.
Nick says: “Celine is a powerhouse performer with an incredible voice.
“She is undoubtedly one of the biggest stars in the world so it’s no surprise she has made the most cash.
“With breathtaking effects from the team behind Cirque Du Soleil, she wowed audiences with water-soaked performances of My Heart Will Go On.
“There were multiple costume changes and audiences loved her chat in between songs.”
CHER
Residencies: 3 Estimated earnings: £116.6 million
CHER, 77, earned so much from Vegas as she did three residencies on the strip.
Her first, Cher In Concert, took place between 1979 and 1982 at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, earning her around £233,000 per week.
She performed 223 shows which earned her £1.6million, and the format became Cher’s first world tour as a solo artist.
In May 2008 she returned to the Caesars, performing around 200 times during her eponymous show, which ended in February 2011.
The show, which featured a troop of 14 dancers and four aerialists, grossed over £75million during its run.
Her third residency Classic Cher earned £40million at the MGM Grand Hotel between February 2017 to February 2020.
Nick says: “Cher’s shows are the stuff of legend. People flocked from near and far.
“It was a real trip down memory lane and no expense was spared – from Cher riding a huge tank, just like in the Turn Back Time video, to performing a medley from Burlesque.
“Her shows were pure pantomime.”
ROD STEWART
Residencies: 1 Estimated earnings: £46.3million
THE Do Ya Think I’m Sexy star signed on for a two-year residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in 2011 – and is still going.
Rod, 78, one of Britain’s most famous exports, said the show stays close to his rock ’n’ roll roots with “no magicians . . . just a good old rock show.”
Nick said: “Rod just doesn’t stop and his Hits residency is making him millions.
“With his age-defying style and mega hits, he’s the perfect star to perform nightly in a casino.
“He gives the young ones like Bruno Mars a run for their money.”
LADY GAGA
Residencies: 1 Estimated earnings: £60.6million
WITH her flamboyant costumes, Lady Gaga took Vegas by storm during her residency, which began in December 2018.
The 37-year-old, who has 14 UK Top Ten hits, earned an incredible £1.2million per show during her stint performing The Enigma at Park MGM Hotel and Casino.
The residency featured two different set lists, one show featuring her biggest hits and a separate show where she performed a string of jazz and piano favourites.
However, the show did have to take a 21-month hiatus during the Covid pandemic, returning to the theatre in October 2021 and concluding in May 2022.
Nick says: “The Enigma show was the perfect way to showcase her performance ability.
“With over the top set design, energetic dance routines and incredible vocals.
“She maximised her earnings by performing jazz on some nights which encouraged fans to book to see her twice, earning her megabucks.”
ADELE
Residencies: 1 Estimated earnings: £18.3million
HER residency got off to a slow start after the plug was pulled on the opening at the last minute due to the show “lacking intimacy”, but Adele, 35, made sure she brought it back 11 months later with a bang.
Weekends With Adele was the first by the North London singer and has been running since November 2022.
Consisting of Friday and Saturday night gigs at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, it has earned her a reported £536,000 per show.
Nick says: “Adele has taken Vegas by storm with a classy show with less pyrotechnics and more performance and, of course, lots of chatting to the audience.”
ELTON JOHN
Residencies: 2 Estimated earnings: £105million
LONG before younger stars filled theatres on the strip, Elton John was the major draw.
He has made Vegas his second home with his Red Piano residency from 2004 to 2009, then The Million Dollar Piano from 2011 to 2018, both at Caeser’s Palace.
Elton, 76, played his last ever tour gig in July this year but said he may consider “something one-off” in the future.
Nick said: “Elton was always going to be a huge hit in Vegas with his massive back catalogue and brilliant performances.
“He’s one of the biggest stars to have played there on and off for years.”
BRITNEY SPEARS
Residencies: 1 Estimated earnings: £78million
HER Piece of Me residency at Planet Hollywood earned Brit some serious cash.
The shows began in December 2013 with 250 performances before wrapping up in December 2017 and even won the Best of Las Vegas awards in 2015 and 2017.
Britney, who was under her controversial conservatorship at the time, is estimated to have banked £312,000 per show.
She is also credited with setting a precedent for contemporary pop acts.
Nick says: “She recreated some of her most famous music videos in the show and fans were invited on stage to dance with her.
“She was criticised for lip syncing, but being the icon that she is – people will always try to look for faults.
“For Britney, it’s all about the performance.”
Bruno Mars
Residencies: 2 Estimated earnings: £42million
THE Uptown Funk singer is so popular that he has extended his Las Vegas stint which was interrupted during the Covid pandemic.
Bruno, 37, is said to be one of the hardest working musicians in the world.
He had his first residency at The Chelsea from 2013 to 2015, then began his second residency at the MGM the following year.
Nick said: “Bruno is proving very popular in Vegas and has extended his shows to New Year’s Eve.
“He’s been so well received by fans and critics alike for his interactions and crowd pleasing dance routines.
“He has fun and his audience do too. Expect another return!”
ELVIS PRESLEY
Number of residencies: 1 Est. earnings: £364million (today’s value)
THE King performed 636 sold-out performances at the Las Vegas International hotel from 1969.
He was tied to the venue for seven years, earning £1million a week if you convert it to today’s money.
His ex girlfriend Joanie Shoofey, a former Miss Nevada who went on to marry the hotel’s president Alex Shoofey, said Elvis was “wild” during his stay, covering the walls of his suite with black hair dye, once shooting the TV with a gun and wrecking the room with his constant partying with his team “The Memphis Mafia”.
Nick said: “The King will always be the No1 Vegas superstar and his shows were legendary not only for the songs but for his fluctuating waistline and wild Vegas years.
“He performed a gruelling two shows a night to ecstatic crowds and is the ultimate Vegas legend.”